Relationships And Tensions During The Quarantine

The lockdown doesn’t have to be a serious problem for most of us. However, due to the restrictions, tensions during quarantine have become commonplace. In this regard, it is worth analyzing the cause of these tensions to know how to respond to them.

In principle, staying at home with a partner or relatives for a long time should entail an adjustment to certain habits. On the other hand, many of the tensions we experience during the quarantine existed before. Forced coexistence only makes them worse.

The current situation is the product of a sudden change that required rapid adjustment. In addition, there is uncertainty. Therefore, it makes sense that people feel anxiety and stress. So much pressure makes people more irritable. This really doesn’t have to lead to serious conflicts. Nor does it have to increase tension during the quarantine.

Tensions during the quarantine

Quarantine intensifies contact between people living in the same house and this in turn imposes its own limitations. Before the lockdown, every family and every couple had their own cohabitation rules. But the quarantine has completely changed these rules.

The spaces that were previously only partially shared are now almost constantly occupied. The same goes for the resources available, such as computers, televisions and even specific rooms and areas. If everyone has a good attitude, the tensions during the quarantine can be overcome relatively quickly.

When it comes down to it, it’s just a matter of making reasonable arrangements, with each party giving and taking for the common good. Mutual aid takes precedence over individual interests, because that is what families and relationships are all about.

Rising Tensions

Of course, negotiations do not always take place in the best possible way. They also don’t always end well. In several countries, especially in Latin America, cases of domestic violence during quarantine have actually increased.

In many cases, you can’t necessarily blame the lockdown, as it is simply the result of that relationship’s predicament before this quarantine. However, tensions during the quarantine can increase. In these cases, the latent conflicts are more dangerous than ever because they can erupt at any time, making society unbearable.

In the past, physical distance helped ease the tension. But the quarantine has eliminated this possibility. Normally, people face conflict when they are ready, not when they are forced to. So what can people do in these kinds of situations?

How to make progress

Tensions during the quarantine will not disappear on their own. In this sense, dealing with incompatibility between family members is very different from, for example, dealing with an addicted loved one in your home. Likewise, it is also much easier to deal with indifference or rudeness than with aggressiveness or violence.

People at risk should seek outside help and find a way to move out, at least temporarily. So don’t wait for things to get worse before making a decision. If the conflict isn’t extreme, it’s best to start by setting boundaries and dividing personal space in the home.

This means deciding the times to be in certain rooms and to use certain tools (like computer). If living together is very difficult, it is a good idea to establish routines without the need for constant interaction.

Many psychologists offer their services online, even for free in some cases. When faced with rising tensions that are hard to bear, it may be a good idea to consult one of these experts and listen to their advice. For some people, this may even be an opportunity to resolve other underlying issues.